Chapter: Clinical Anesthesiology: Perioperative & Critical Care Medicine: Acid-Base Management

Conjugate Pairs & Buffers

As discussed above, when the weak acid HA is in solution, HA can act as an acid by donating an H+, and A− can act as a base by taking up H+.

Conjugate Pairs & Buffers

As discussed above, when the weak acid HA is in solution, HA can act as an acid by donating an H⁺, and A⁻ can act as a base by taking up H⁺. A⁻ is there-fore often referred to as the conjugate base of HA. A similar concept can be applied for weak bases. Consider the weak base B, where

BH⁺ is therefore the conjugate acid of B.

A buffer is a solution that contains a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its con-jugate acid (conjugate pairs). Buffers minimize any change in [H⁺] by readily accepting or giving up hydrogen ions. It is readily apparent that buffers are most efficient in minimizing changes in the [H⁺] of a solution (ie, [A⁻] = [HA]) when pH = pK. Moreover, the conjugate pair must be present in significant quantities in solution to act as an effective buffer.

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Clinical Anesthesiology: Perioperative & Critical Care Medicine: Acid-Base Management : Conjugate Pairs & Buffers |